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Careful chiropractic care in Durham, NCThu, 15 Mar 2018 14:18:21 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/pc-favicon.pngprecisionofdurham.comhttps://precisionofdurham.com
3232Do I Need to Detox?https://precisionofdurham.com/how-important-is-it-to-detox/
Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:41:59 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1520Periodically, my patients ask me questions about the importance of a detox cleanse. Do we need to detox if we have a healthy liver? Full disclaimer: I do not detox or follow a cleanse regularly. I have pretty broad parameters about nutrition. In general, if it’s food grown in the ground, not genetically modified, and not sprayed […]

]]>Periodically, my patients ask me questions about the importance of a detox cleanse. Do we need to detox if we have a healthy liver?

Full disclaimer: I do not detox or follow a cleanse regularly. I have pretty broad parameters about nutrition. In general, if it’s food grown in the ground, not genetically modified, and not sprayed with toxic pesticides, it’s safe. So, that means a wide variety of our diet can come from plants, veggies and fruit. I’m also a big fan of lean protein that hasn’t been pumped up with hormones and antibiotics. Anything packaged is typically off limits. That’s because, in general, the amount of salt and preservatives found in packaged foods make them a nutritionally weak choice. Convenience comes at a cost and the cost is usually additives we don’t need.

But I understand life gets busy. Usually, when we’re too busy, we eat like crap because it’s easy to just grab and go. In times like this, a packaged, weighed, measured, and structured detox cleanse can be helpful. It can prevent us from grabbing unhealthy convenience food. A structured cleanse can also help us “reset” after one of those busy season past. When we’re feeling tired, logey, and even depressed after indulging, say after a vacation, a holiday or a busy/stressful season in life, a detox cleanse can be really beneficial. I often recommend diet changes to my patients who complain of feeling constantly tired or of hitting an afternoon slump. Depending on their goals, that could mean cutting back on snacks or portions, or it might be following a structured 2-3 week cleanse.

In the past, I’ve carried only one cleanse in the office. It’s from Standard Process, a company I regard highly for the quality of their products. We’ve seen great results from this cleanse–and people say they really like the taste. It comes with supplements and powder to use in meal-replacement shakes.

BUT. Some patients think 21 days is too long to cleanse, so I recently brought in an additional detox option. This one is from Bionics Research. I’ve recommended and sold Bionics for years because I know their ingredients go through a rigorous approval process and their scientific formulas have proven to be very effective. The new detox is called NutriClear Plus. It’s a 15-day cleanse rather than a 21-day, which seems more manageable for people who have a lot of events on their calendar. This metabolic detox comes with 30 powder packets, supplements and a shaker, making this detox option convenient for those on the go.

The value of a cleanse

For most of us, the first days of the cleanse are very much like a “fast,” even though we do actually eat. The benefits this provides to the body and mind can be powerful. The drop in your blood sugar level will jump-start your body’s fat-burning functions. The reduced intake also gives your body a chance to focus on waste removal. A fast can be beneficial to the heart and even help lower blood pressure. Even the stress people feel from the dramatic dietary change during a cleanse can be beneficial on the brain!

If you’re interested in a nutritional “reset” with a cleanse, I’d recommend either the Standard Process cleanse or NutriClear Plus from Bionics Research. Both offer shakes as a supplement to meals or snacks, but also rely upon whole foods to round out a healthy dietary intake. Both are available at the office, but call before you come in to make sure they’re in stock.

One last thing

I don’t typically villainize any food in moderation, but I have one exception and that’s sugar. The amount of sugar consumed in the Western diet is astounding. This sugar-focused diet is terrible for our bodies. Sugar inflames our cells and inflammation causes all sorts of illness. Diabetes has skyrocketed. If you want to read an excellent book on the topic, get your hands on “The Case Against Sugar.” It’s a well-cited, easy-to-read documentary that will make you realize sugar is anything but sweet. (You can read it free when you support our local library!)

]]>The Problem With Stretchinghttps://precisionofdurham.com/the-problem-with-stretching/
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:02:38 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1423Stretching is overrated. Wait! Before you throw your foam roller at me, hear me out. There’s nothing wrong with stretching. And, for the record, I happen to think we’d all be in better physical health if we did yoga. And I get massages regularly. The problem with stretching is with our expectations. Most people think […]

There’s nothing wrong with stretching. And, for the record, I happen to think we’d all be in better physical health if we did yoga. And I get massages regularly.

The problem with stretching is with our expectations.

Most people think if a muscle feels tight, you “just need to stretch it out.” If that doesn’t work after a while, maybe try yoga or massage. If it’s really bad, you might get into acupuncture or physical therapy.

Here’s the problem with that approach: If a muscle is tight, it’s tight for a reason. And if you want the muscle to relax, you’ve got to deal with the underlying problem.

If a muscle is tight it is usually because the muscle is being intentionally activated by the brain through the nerves to PROTECT an area of vulnerability or damage.

Picture a neck brace or a splint around a sprained ankle. The brace or splint is rigid around the damaged area to keep it in place and protect it. Tight muscles work the same way.

For example, if one of the vertebra in your neck is shifted out of alignment, your brain knows that is a problem and could cause long-term, irreversible damage. So to protect it, the brain sends a message through the nerves to the muscles in that area to hang on tight.

Meanwhile, we beat the daylights out of that those muscles, trying to stretch, poke, cup, needle, rub, roll and knead them into submission. But massaging or stretching tight muscles will never fix a structural problem.

I have great respect for muscle-focused therapies like stretching, massage, physical therapy and yoga. I believe these are are helpful components of healing and staying healthy. I often refer my patients to Nick Van Ngo, a licensed massage therapist who practices out of the office here. I teach good stretching techniques in my office. My wife is a fan of yoga and it definitely is good for her overall health and well-being. But as helpful as muscle-focused therapies can be, they will never be able to fix a structural problem. And if a structural problem exists, muscle-focused therapies may even do more damage than good. That’s why I say stretching is overrated. People have unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to accomplish.

Signs there might be a structural problem with your spine:

You feel the need to crack or pop your neck or back

You find yourself guarding some part of your body when you work out

You have bad form with certain exercise movements

Your posture is funky

You have muscles that stay tight long-term

I’ve been a chiropractor for 16 years now, and what drew me to chiropractic in the first place is the same reason I still love my job. Chiropractic is solution-oriented. We find the problem. We fix the problem. You get back to living the life you want to live.

]]>How does chiropractic help anything besides neck pain or back pain? Get Your Life Back video serieshttps://precisionofdurham.com/chiropractic-help-anything-besides-neck-pain-back-pain-get-life-back-video-series/
Thu, 08 Jun 2017 23:06:02 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1077How does a chiropractor help anything besides back pain? Here's how.

]]>Ice or Heat? Get Your Life Back video serieshttps://precisionofdurham.com/ice-heat-get-life-back-video-series/
Thu, 08 Jun 2017 23:01:53 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1074Should you ice or heat a neck or back injury?

]]>Get Your Life Back video series: Try chiropractic.https://precisionofdurham.com/get-life-back-video-series-try-chiropractic/
https://precisionofdurham.com/get-life-back-video-series-try-chiropractic/#respondTue, 16 May 2017 13:06:47 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1064The post Get Your Life Back video series: Try chiropractic. appeared first on precisionofdurham.com.
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]]>https://precisionofdurham.com/get-life-back-video-series-try-chiropractic/feed/02017 Monthly Contest Series: Mayhttps://precisionofdurham.com/monthly-contest-series-may/
https://precisionofdurham.com/monthly-contest-series-may/#respondTue, 09 May 2017 16:26:44 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1039In February, Nancy A. scooped up a $50 Amazon gift certificate. In March, Christina A. won a massage, and last month John D. also won a massage. In May, anyone can win. Here’s how it works: STEP 1: Get Dr. Martin scheduled at your workplace for one of the following in-office health talks: WELL10: Think […]

STEP 2:

]]>https://precisionofdurham.com/monthly-contest-series-may/feed/06 Questions to Ask When You’re Looking for a Chiropractorhttps://precisionofdurham.com/chiropractor-near-me/
https://precisionofdurham.com/chiropractor-near-me/#respondFri, 05 May 2017 01:40:42 +0000https://precisionofdurham.com/?p=1035Friends and family often ask me: “How do I find a good chiropractor near me?” Here’s what I tell them. Besides the obvious (ask for referrals, read online reviews, visit his or her office for a consultation), here are some of the questions I tell people to ask when they’re looking for a chiropractor. 1. […]

]]>Friends and family often ask me: “How do I find a good chiropractor near me?”

Here’s what I tell them.

Besides the obvious (ask for referrals, read online reviews, visit his or her office for a consultation), here are some of the questions I tell people to ask when they’re looking for a chiropractor.

1. What school did they go to?

Here’s the A-list of chiropractic schools:

Palmer (all campuses, Palmer West and Palmer Florida)

Life (and Life West)

Sherman

The schools listed above are superb. They teach their students what it means to be a chiropractor and train them to be excellent adjusters. For example, at Palmer College of Chiropractic, where I went, we had our hands on spines from the very first trimester and straight through for the next four years. We learned how the spine feels, how to find the specific problem area, how to make a specific adjustment, how the body is supposed to move, and what the spine feels like when the it is lined up the right way. We were taught very specific techniques for adjusting different parts of the spine.

Bonus fact: The number of classroom hours to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Medical Doctor degree are virtually the same.

2. Does the chiropractor feel comfortable taking care of kids and families?

Even if you don’t have a child or other family members, this is a good question to ask because it gives you an idea if the chiropractor was trained well. No one is more difficult to take care of than a young child. Their bones are smaller, they’re squirmy, and they can’t give you as much feedback. So you really have to rely on your hands and your intuition. Chiropractors who are comfortable adjusting babies and young children are likely to feel comfortable taking care of all kinds of people and all kinds of health challenges.

Bonus fact: The youngest person I ever adjusted was 24 hours old.

3. Does the chiropractor actually adjust the spine?

Believe it or not, some chiropractors don’t actually adjust the spine. Instead, they only do therapies like ultrasound or muscle stimulation. Some chiropractors practice more nutritional counseling than actual chiropractic. And some chiropractors try to act as if they are medical doctors and want to diagnose every health condition under the sun and refer you out to specialists. I’m not opposed to taking advantage of other therapies and medical care. It’s just that, most times when people ask me for help finding a chiropractor, it’s because they want a good chiropractor—one who is well trained to make good, specific chiropractic adjustments. If they wanted a nutrition counselor, they’d ask for that. If they wanted a medical doctor to diagnose their cardiac concerns, they’d ask for that. So it’s frustrating when I refer friends of family to see a chiropractor and they end up in an office where the chiropractor doesn’t rely on specific, manual adjustments and doesn’t know how to be a chiropractor!

4. Does the chiropractor take X-rays?

Many chiropractors do not take X-rays. I really don’t understand why. I used to have a sign in my office that said: “To see is to know. To not see is to guess.” I don’t want to guess! And you don’t want your chiropractor guessing either. Look for a chiropractor who will take your X-ray, analyze it carefully and—this is key—carefully explain it to you so you can understand what’s going on. You should be able to see on your X-ray exactly where the problem areas are and if you’re making progress.

There are many reasons it’s important for chiropractors to take X-rays. Here are 3:

Chiropractors who take X-rays can be much more specific about where and how they adjust.

An X-ray will often reveal structural anomalies, disease, fractures, birth defects, arthritis and degeneration that you wouldn’t know about if not for the picture. It can be dangerous to adjust a person when you don’t know what’s happening on the inside.

For the patient, an X-ray is how you can see if you’re making progress. In our office we take a high definition, motion X-ray that makes it really obvious to patients where the problem areas are. I sometimes tell my patients I can turn them into X-ray experts within 30 seconds.

5. How long do typical appointments last?

In some chiropractic offices, your appointment might last an hour or more. Before your adjustment, the chiropractor might have you doing traction, ultrasound, muscle stimulation and any number of other therapies. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with these therapies, but they’re often over-used because it helps pad the bill. But some of the things can easily be done at home, which saves you time and money. On average a chiropractic appointment shouldn’t last more than 10 or 15 minutes. In my office, patients often go directly from the front door to the adjusting table. Other people benefit from stretching before their adjustment. A little goes a long way. Just a few minutes on a stretching machine or traction table is all that’s needed. You’ll want to find a chiropractor who is not going to charge you for what are called “passive therapies.” He or she should be willing and able to teach you stretches and exercises you can do on your own, saving you time and money.

6. Does the chiropractor put you on a care plan to achieve objective goals?

When injuries occur or problems develop with the alignment of the spine, the body immediately starts to heal. But sometimes it will heal the wrong way. When that happens, you need enough time to change not only how you feel, but also to address the long-term effects of your problem: the ligaments, discs and cartilage. Otherwise, you may get out of pain but the problem will come back or get worse without you realizing it. This is a common problem. A lot of chiropractors will just adjust you for 5-10 visits and tell you to come back when you have a problem again. That doesn’t make any sense! It would be like a dentist saying, “Don’t worry about coming in again or taking care of your teeth until they start hurting.” Soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons) take 6-18 months to completely heal. If you want to really fix your problem, look for a chiropractor who will put you on a care plan with objective goals.

7. Are the chiropractic office financial policies reliant on insurance?

You might think a “yes” answer here is a good thing. Maybe. But there’s also a downside you’ll want to be aware of. When the chiropractor participates with your health insurance company, your care might be dictated by the terms of your policy rather than your needs. In many offices, the number of visits you “need” magically corresponds with the number of visits the insurance company covers. Most insurance only covers the very minimum level of care—emergency care. The insurance companies are not interested in long-term benefits, correction or prevention. The number of visits that insurance companies in North Carolina authorize are far short of the amount of time it takes soft tissue to fully heal. Chiropractic care is an investment in your health. It’s a bad idea to let the insurance company dictate how much care you need. (They will always be wrong.)

Bonus fact: Insurance coverage for chiropractic is so lousy in North Carolina that in our office we can often provide care to people at a price cheaper than their co-payments.

Dr. Martin is a structural chiropractor in South Durham, NC. If you live in the Triangle, he’d be honored to care for you. If not, he hopes these questions will help you find a good chiropractor wherever you may be.>>Read full bio